Suspended rapid transit railway system



Feb. 12, 1957 A. DAvlNo SUSPENDED RARID TRANSIT RAILWAY SYSTEM FiIed Aug. 2s, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet l ALPHO/VSO DAV/NO'.

.hilw fa.

I A@ m\\ kv Feb.. 12, 1957 A. DAvlNo 2,781,001

SUSPENDED RAPID TRANSIT-.RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed Aug. 2a, 195o s Lsheets-sheen; 2

/n Ven zAor, LPHO/VSO DAV/NO.

A By:

M( i' gen.

Feb; 12, 1957 A. DAvlNo 2,781,001

SUSPENDED RAPID TRANSIT RAILWAY SYSTEM Filed Aug. 2e, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /nven zor.

UnitedStates Parent ice y2,181,001 SUSBENDEDRAPID TRANsrr-R-AmwAYsYsTEM Alphonse navinn, nis Angeles, can. Application August es, 1950,ser'ia11NQa1s1zgsr2 folims. .(Cl. (10h89).

This invention .relates to rapid transit systems, and particularly to an overhead Vsystem whichembodiies an overhead track and cars suspended from .the Itrack Iand travelable therealong.

Suspension railway systems have been proposed xin the past, suchsystemsincluding arnonorail and cai-shaving wheels adapted to roll `along thesingle track, at least oneof the Wheels being driven .to propel the'lcars along the rail. -Such suspension of the -cars has the disadvantage of allowing the cars to sway sideways, vparticular-ly when maneuvering around a .curve-or when the cars are .loaded unevenly. Such anunstable conditionfhas -been aserious drawback to the adoption of overhead,isuspension .railway systems.

It is therefore -an .importantobject of this invention to provide -anoverhea'd railway in which the transportation cars are so suspended that side sway thereof 7is greatly minimized, and safer, .morecomfortable travel is assured. This object is best attained by providing a pairiofparallel tracks anda car havingrpairs of transversely-spaced -wheels which roll'along the tracks. Byltlfiis means, better balance of vthe car is eected and lateral rock-ing or swaying of the car -is minimized.

.Another object is to 'providea system, Vof-the character referred to, in which `the spaced tracks lhave upstanding flanges which serve `to retain the wheels-onthe tracks, the latter beingvpreferably in the -form-of .channels capableof taking side thrust ofthe wheelsin either direction.

Another object vis to provide -a railway system of the type indicated `in which each car Yhas mounting .frames fat its.top,the frames being U-shaped to provide spacedrvertical supports .for `the wheels, .the mounting means also including .resilient -connections between the `:frames '-and the .top of the cars. vBy this-means,the1cars .are l.resiliently `suspended and vertical .shock loads vare eiectively absorbed to electsmooth operation.

.Another object vis .to provide a .system Vin which .the wheels of the cars fhavepneumatic tirestoiurther eiect smooth, noiseless .travel .of fthe .cars va'longthe dual tracks. Afrelated object isto provideroller meanslassociated with each wheel and adaptedto `roll-along .the .tracksand supportthe carin the event thatrthe tire ofthe wheelA becomes deflated, this'being a safetyrfeature.

.Another object is .to provide al1-overhead railway systern which includes spaced, verticalcolumns or towers, each tower having .at 'least Aone lateral cross-,arm .at `its upperend and a supportingelement dependingfrom the outer end ofthe cross-arm, the element servingto support the .pair of..rails .or tracks. .A related-Objectis Vto provide a catenary type suspension means.fonsupportinglthe rails at points .intermediate the towers. .In accordance with the invention, -the longitudinal members vof the suspension meansmay .be inthe .form of. adjustable rods to which the vertical members vof the suspension means-.are connected.

Another object is :toprovide .an :overhead suspension type railway systemfin which the caror carshave electric driving means, the electricity `for operating the same being 2,781,001 'FeentedFeb-:1i2t .1.3.57

Supplied through a trolley wire extending 0f and. Carried by the track, the invention furtherrr-,Qvidinz an .improved .trolleyfroller `.means Vresiliently mountdkon the ycar and normally urged upwardly .tocause .the roller to engageandroll along the trolley wire. Theresilien't mounting is fsofconstructed thatthe{trolleyroller-oanmow? vertically and also .laterally .in`either direction, as thevcar is-.pronellediaround Curves.

fAuothsrobiect ris to provide-a Y-typ, Switch whichfis operative to guide the-car 'fromla main vline onto-abl'nlh line, r`the-movable switch member including apair-l of the tracks or rails and being shiftable, by pivotal'action, :to .a first `position vin which it aligns with and .forms part-'of the .main track, and to a .secondvposition in which -its ends vare disposedin alignment -withion end of the 'main track and an endof .they branch track.

Arurther object is to provider-such a switch whichis operated byja reversible .electric motor vcarryingapinion gearinmeshwith .a-curved gear rack mountedon theshiftable switch member fand .arranged concentric .with ithe pivot ithe-reof. A .related object vis to .provide means arranged .alongside the vtracks and .remote .from .the switch by `.which the carcan energize 'the-switchmotor-to shift .the'switchmember in the appropriatedirection.

A vfurther 'object .of lthe .invention .is .to provide -vertically vmovable gates .adapted to be alternately'raised and lowered above .the main track .and .the vbranch track, .gates .being disposed beyond vthe shitable switch ement.- ber at the end remote from thepivot. Another o ect in Athis respect :is to provide lcable means .operative .to simultaneously 4raise one gateiand lower the other gata the cable means being adapted to lbe wound Afonto unwound from .,-a drum rotated-by 4the switchmotor. this v-rneans one cable is Iwound as the .other cable is wound to 'effect lowering of either gateand :raising of the other gate. Since the Yrotation of .thedrum is nized with .the switch operating mechanism, tlrega-tezin the p ath'of contemplated travel of the .car isrased while `the .other gate is lower-edito provide a barrier orfStOpfor preventing va ycar Yfrom running oli the end of the open track.

.A still -further object is .to provide asyst-em `of, .warning lights for indicating to `the operator of a car Ewhether the switch and the gate, which -is disposed :above the track on which the car i-s traveling, Yare properly *setto allow the car `to pass through thegswitch in :the :selected direction. -In accordance with .the invention, theL ignal lights .are connected in yelectric kcircuits which include switches, 'the latterfhaving actuator .'arrns operativelyeonnected to the Ygates so `as, to .be operated --by movement thereofto upper tand lower positions. 'Y

Further objects will appear :from :the'followingdeA v1ption and .from the drawing, which -is intended-ingame purpose of .illustration .only, .and in which:

lFig. l is aside view of a portion offtheoverheadgrapid transit system-ofmyinventiom Fig; 2.is a.cross-sectional view, taken oniline-.fZ-.of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is .an enlarged'plan 'viewof -a portion .'of.. the track, .showing .a Y Vtype :switch and .actuating .means therefor; l l f IFig. `4 is a.longitudinal.sectionalfviemtaken 011;.:linc 4-4 OfFig. 3;

Fig. '5 .isa crossse'ctional View, takenion line `of Fg..3;

.Fig ;6 is an enlarged rend view k'ofthe transportation car, rshowing the drivingmeans for propellingtlre along .the track;

rlig. 7 is .an enlarged-view of-the trolleyconnection of lthe car; Y A,

Eig. .8 is :a detail ofoneof `thetie membersfgf. rh; truss structure;

Y Fig. 9 is a side view of a safety device employed on the car; and, Y

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an alternative form of overhead rail suspension means. `Referring tothe drawings in detail, my. improved railway-system -is-of an overhead type, that is, a Vsystem in which a transportation'Y car 10 is suspended Yfrom and *travelable along a track 11. As an important feature of the invention, thetrack A11 is composed of a pair of transversely spaced rails v12 of channel shape, each rail having a horizontal track portion 13 and upstanding tlanges 14 at its lateral edges, As shown in the drawings, lthe rails 12 are connected Iat longitudinally spaced intervals by cross-struts or connecting beams 15. The track 11- is suspended between spaced towers 20 of structural steel, the towers having lateral arms 21 between which extend suspension cables 22 which support the track by means of vertical elements 23. In lieu of the cables V22, the catenary suspension may utilize rods 25 (Fig. 8) which are joined in end-to-end relation by turnbuckles 26; At the towers 20 the trackis carried by a supporting structure 27 Yextending downwardly from the arms 21. While a single track 11 may be supported by and between the towers 20 if desired, Fig. 2 illustrates a pair of tracks 11 extending parallel to Veach other, this arrangement permitting travel of cars in the same or opposite directions. lSince the railways at each side `of the towers are identical, only one is described in detail.

Each car 10 is preferably of streamline contour as shown in Fig. 1, ,and has doors e29 by which passengers may enter and leave the car, the railway system also including platforms or stations located at and carried by certain Yof the towers 20, these platforms not 'being illustrated. The car 10 is suspended from and mounted to travel along the track all by means to be next described. The car 10 has a pair of longitudinally spaced, upwardly projecting posts or pivots 33 which are'pivotally connected to substantially U-shaped support members 34, these members having upstanding portions 35. Each portion or arm y35 car-ries an axle on which a traction Wheel36 is rotatable, each wheel having a pneumatic tire. The axles extend normal to the longitudinal axis of the car so that the wheels are 'adapted to roll along the rails 12 of the track 11. It is important to note that the wheels are retained in the channel-shaped rails by the ilanges 14. By the double rail arrangement, side sway of the car is minimized. Due to the pivotal connections 33, the supporting members 34 can pivot with respect to the car to adapt the latter to negotiate curves, switches, etc.` The upper ends'of the pivots 33'have anges or heads 37 and disposed between these heads and the lower connecting bars of the support members are compression springs 38 which serve to absorb shocks 'and vibration. By the use of the springs 38 and the pneumatic 'tires on the traction wheels, smooth, quiet travel of the Ycar'along the track is assured.

Y As shown indetail in Fig. 6, at least one of the sup- A:2,781,001 Y 'i a ygrooved trolley roller 57 is rotatable. Springs 58 tend VIto centralize the roller 57 and adapt the roller to shift laterally. By this means, the trolley roller 57 is maintained yieldingly engaged against the trolley wire 47. As is common in conventional electrically-driven transpor tation cars, a suitable control switch or rheostat is pro vided in the car by which the operator can energize the motors 46 and regulate their speed so as to attain selected speeds of travel of the car along 4the track, and suitable Vbrake means (not shown) should, of course, be provided for bringing the car promptly to a stop.

Referring to Fig. 9, my invention contemplates the provision of safety means for retaining the car suspended f by the Itrack 11 in the event that a pneumatic tire of a wheel 36 becomes deflated. This means consists simply in an auxiliary roller or small wheel 60 mounted in rear of a wheel 36 and normally elevated slightly above the track 11. Should a tire of a wheel 36 become' deflated and the car-tend to lower at this point, the auxiliary wheel 60 will engage and roll along the track. As an added precaution, the car 10 may have upwardly projecting Vhooks 62, the upper ends of whichV overliethe laterally and outwardly projecting ends 63 lof bar cross member 64 supported below U-shaped yoke support member 34 by means of struts 65. yUpstanding lugs 66 project upwardly from the ends 63 of the bar cross member preventing lateral disengagement of the upper ends of the hooks 62 asY showny in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the hooks 62 :are not normally in engagement with the ends 63 and the car is supported by the pivot.V By this means, the car will 'be supported by the hooks in the event of damage to the pivot posts 33.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, my invention contemplates the provision of switch mean-s 70 by which fthe travel of a car can .be diverted from the straight track 11 onto a branch track 71, which includes spaced rails 72 ofthe same form 4as the rails 12 described Vpreviously. The switch means 70 includes an auxiliary track section 73 which is composed of a pair of auxiliary channel shaped switch rail sections 74, these rails being connected to a yoke member 74 atY 75, the member being pivoted zat 76 centrally of the main rails. The track section 73 ie supported from curved guide members 80 extending between beams 78 and 79 which, in turn, extend between -a pair of the :towers 20, slide elements 73 on the track section engaging the members 80. lSuitable straps S0 extend upwardly from track section 73 and embrace curved guide members 80 for guiding and supporting the track section 73 in its movement port members 34 has upper laterally and inwardly extending portions '39 which support the wheel axles-49 by means of brackets 41. Each axle carries a bevel gear 41 which meshes with a similar gear 42 on 'a vertical shaft 43. Also keyed to each shaft 43 is a .bevel gear 44 which meshes with and is driven by a smaller bevel gear fast yon the armature shaft of 4an electric motor 46. Each driving motor 46 derives its electrical energy from-a trolley'wire 47 carried by and suitably insulatedv from bars 48 supported at spaced intervals yalong the railway.V As shown in Fig. 6, trolley shoes 54) Y resiliently carried nby the support member 34 may be utilized forY contacting the trolley wires 47. In another embodiment (Fig. 7), lthe support member 34 may carry posts or rods 52 on which a plate 53is slidable vertically, a spring 54`normally urging the plate upwardly. Bearing elements 55 projecting upwardly from the plate 53k support the ends of -a transverse shaft 56 on which from one position to the other. A curved guide plate 81 projecting from branch track 71 serves to additionally support the switch section when the switch section bridges the main line to the branch line while a similar plate 81 may support the switch section when bridging the'main line track and the continuation track. It will be Yevident that sutlicient play is provided betweenY the wheels `and the upstanding ilanges of the channel rail-s 12 to per# mit slight'variati-ons in the spacing between the rails,

especially at the switching position. Y Y

The switch track 73 carries aV curved gearV rack'82 which is arranged substantially concentric to the switch pivots 75. A reversible electric'm'otor 83 is mounted on a stationary framework 84 and has a driving gear 85 which meshes with the gear track 82. By this means, when the motor 83 is energized audits gear 85 is thus rotated, the switch track 73 is pivoted to align its free end with either the main track 11 or the branch track 71, depending upon the direction of rotation of the driving gear. The electric motor 83 may be connected in a circuit which includes a suitable switch (not shown), which may be tripped by the car or by the operator thereof as the car appro-aches the switch.

Associated with the switch means 70 is a pair of stop gates and 91 adapted for vertical movement above the respective tracks 11 and 71. The gates 90 and 91 are suspended from respective cables 92 and 93 which extend over pulleys 94, the cables being wound lonto a drum 95 fast on the armature shaft of the motor 83. Since the gates are located at opposite sides of the axis of the drum 95, when the drum is rotated, one cable is wound further onto the drum to raise the gate carried by the cable and the other cable is unwound from the drum to lower the gate to which this cable is connected. By this arrangement, lowering of either gate effects simultaneous raising of the other gate, this operation being clearly shown in Fig. 5. The gates 90 and 91 are heavily proportioned and, when they are in lower position and engage with their respective tracks, they serve as stops or abutments against which the wheels of the car may engage to prevent the car from passing into the open switch.

As a further precaution against travel of the car into the open switch, red and green warning or signal lights 100 and 101 are employed, see Fig. 5, there being a set of red and green lights adjacent each gate 90 and 91. Electric switches 102 and 103 are connected in the electrical circuits for each set of lights. Each electrical switch 102 and 103 includes a stationary, arcuate contact element having contact portions 104 and 105 separated by a dielectric portion 106. A switch arm 107, pivoted to the framework adjacent the switch means 70, is electrically connected to one side of the circuit and pivotally connected to a gate 90 or 91 at 108. Each contact portion 104, when engaged by the switch arm 107, activates a red light 100 and each contact portion 105 effects lighting of a green lamp 101, the contacts of the respective switches 102 and 103 being reversely disposed so that the green and red lights at opposite sides of the switch means 70 are alternately lighted, in synchronism with the raising and lowering of the gates 90 and 91.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that my invention provides a suspended rapid transit system which is relatively simple in construction, yet highly practical, efficient, and economical in use. As a particular feature of the invention, the transportation car is suspended by means of longitudinally spaced pairs of traction wheels which travel within rails, the latter having upstanding tlanges which retain the wheels 'on the track. By the dual wheel construction, as distinguished from the monorail system, greater stability is attained and side sway is minimized. Due to the resilient mounting of the car, quiet, smooth operation is produced, and this provides greater comfort for the passengers. Moreover,

the car is provided with devices for etecting safety so.

that maximum protection is afforded.

The transit system disclosed herein embodies 'switch means by which the car can be made to travel along a main track or switched onto a branch track, the mechanism for actuating the switch being simple, yet highly efcient, and adapted for fully automatic operation by conventional controls, not herein disclosed. As an added precaution, the switch embodies stop means and signal Alights which together function to avoid running a car Ythrough the open switch, the stop means and lights being synchronized and adapted for activation by remote control.

Referring now to Fig. 10, my invention further contemplates a transit system having a monorail 120 which is provided with a horizontal track portion'121 and upstanding flanges 122 at its longitudinal sides. L-shaped supporting members 124 resiliently support the ca r 10 through the medium of the pivot posts 33 and springs 138. Each supporting member 124 carries at least one wheel 125 which is adapted to roll along the monorail 120. To prevent side sway Iof the car 10, each supporting member 124 may have a slot 126 for receiving a guide or runner 127 carried by the monorail.

While my rapid transmit system has been herein disclosed as embodied in a preferred form of construction, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various modification might be made in the structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. Consequently, I do not wish to be limited in this respect, but desire to be afforded the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A suspended railway comprising a pair of substantially parallel channel shaped tracks arranged with their channels opening upwardly, means extending between the channels and upwardly therefrom for supporting said tracks in elevated position, a railway car, an upstanding U-shaped yoke pivoted to the top of the car, a wheel on the inner side of each leg of said yoke having a pneu-V matic tire and mounted for rotation so the tread of each tire runs in the corresponding channel, and power means for driving the wheels, a bar cross member substantially parallel to the bight portion of the U-shaped yoke and positioned therebelow and supported therefrom and each end projecting laterally outwardly from the pivot, a hook member secured to each side of the car laterally of the pivot with the hooks thereof overlying the ends of said bar cross member and normally having the free extremity thereof adjacent to and spaced a small distance from said bar cross member whereby the car is normally supported by said pivot but in the event of failure of the pivot the car will be supported by the hooks.

2. A suspended railway comprising a pair of substan tially parallel channel shaped tracks arranged with their channels opening upwardly, means extending between the channels and upwardly therefrom for supporting said tracks in elevated position, a railway car, an upstanding U-shaped yoke pivoted to the top of the car, a Wheel on the inner side of each leg of said yoke mounted for rotation so the tread of each wheel runs in the corresponding channel, and power means for driving the wheels, a bar cross member substantially parallel to the bight portion of the U-shaped yoke and therebelow and supported therefrom and each end projecting laterally outwardly from the pivot, hook members secured to each side of the car laterally of the pivot with the hooks thereof overlying the ends of said bar cross member and normally having the free extremity thereof adjacent to and spaced a small amount fromsaid bar cross member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,727 Brown Mar. 25, 1884 508,478 Johnston Nov. 14, 1893 510,064 Eddy Dec. 5, 1893 524,486 McHenery Aug. 14, 1894 s 953,352 Smith 1 Mar. 29, Y1910 1,145,787 Murray et al. July 6, 1915 1,149,447 Y James Aug. 10, 1915 1,285,666V -Franklin Nov. 26, 1918 1,305,415 Steffens .lune 3, 1919 1,549,625 Swift Aug. 11, 1925 1,607,875 Davino Nov. 23, 1926 1,744,482 Mead Jan. 21, 1930 1,846,032 Hart Feb. 23, 1932 1,860,241 Galko a May 24, `1932 1,921,109 Webb et al. ..-7 Aug. 8, 1933 2,057,328 Cordova Oct. 13, 1936Y 2,060,402 Strauss Nov. 10, 1936v 2,162,192 Yoder f June 13,1939 2,324,487 Davino July 20,` 1943 2,439,986 Rennie Apr. 20, 1948 2,469,575 Ralston et al. May 10, 1949 2,537,866 Tanner Jan. 9, 1951 

